Dispensing container



Dec. 12, 1967 H. M. HILL 3,357,627

DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed March 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 3| 32 4 F|g-3 3T 36 6 47 40 I 3r 53 so 2 E 43 4a v 27 27 gr 29 2 7 27 H. M. HILL Dec. 12, 1967 DISPENSING CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 8, 1967 Dec. 12, 1967 H. M. HILL DISPENSING CONTAINER 5 Sheets-Sheet (5 Filed March 1967 United States Patent O 3,357,627 DISPENSING CONTAINER Howard M. Hill, Hamilton, Va. 22068 Filed Mar. 8, 1967, Ser. No. 628,207 12 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container produced by folding a blank of any material and making seams at points of overlap. Manufacture is simplified by a one-piece blank for the main structure. Opening is by finger manipulation of a hinged tear tab carrying a plug; reclosure is by reseating the plug in the fricti'on fit dispensing aperture.

This disclosure relates to containers for the packaging of liquids or dry products and has particular reference to a reclosable dispensing container adapted to be made at high speed in a packaging plant and providing a comparatively large dispensing opening easily opened and tightly reclosable.

In some respects this disclosure constitutes an improve ment upon the container disclosed in my earlier Patent No. 3,199,761 entitled One Piece Dispensing Container.

An object of this invention is the provision of a relatively large dispensing opening having a tight reclosure in a container having a fiat top.

Another object of the invention is to provide an easily opened and reclosed dispensing opening while retaining economical use of material.

Another object of the invention is provision of a tight initial seal on a dispensing container easily opened by finger manipulation of a tear tab and strip.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent as it is better understood from the following description which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a completed container made in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the container of FIGURE 1 after opening to dispense the contents.

FIGURE 3 is a plan View of one type of blank used in making the container of FIGURE 1, the lower end of the blank broken away.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the blank of FIGURE 3 after a first folding and seaming operation as the first step in making the top closure, the lower end of the blank broken away.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the blank of FIGURE 3 after a second folding operation on the top closure, the lower end of the blank broken away.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the blank of FIGURE 1 after the two folding operations of FIGURES 4 and 5 and a further perforating operation, the lower end of the blank broken away.

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the blank of FIGURE 6 after the scrap within the perforated opening has been removed, the lower end the blank broken away.

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of a second form of blank used in making an oblong container having side panels of different widths, the lower end of the blank broken away.

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of a separate top closure blank, made in accordance with the invention, for attachment to a separate body and bottom structure. 7

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of the blank of FIGURE 9 after the performance of operations similar to those shown by FIGURES 4, 5, 6, and 7.

3,357,627 Patented Dec. 12, 1967 As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention FIGURES l to 7 inclusive of the drawings illustrate a container 11 and a blank 12 from which the container 11 may be made. The container is comprised of a tubular body and a top closure 13 folded from blank 12. A plug 14 fitting tightly in opening 15 has been used for tight reclosure. The bottom of the container may be closed in any suitable manner.

Referring to FIGURE 3, blank 12 is comprised of a major area 16 and an elongated flap 17. Major area 16 is divided vertically by score lines 18, 19, 2t), and 21 into five wall-forming panels 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26 and has a narrow flange-forming area 27 set 01f from the upper edge 30 by score line 28. Elongated flap 17 is articulated to the upper edge of panel 24 in a score line 29 coextensive with upper edge 30 of major area 16. Flap 17 is divided into areas 31 and 32 by vertical score line 33 which is coextensive with vertical score line 20. Area 32 is separated from major area 16 by out line 53 permitting hinging about score line 33. Areas 31 and 32 when folded and adhesively attached in juxtaposed relationship become the outer and inner plies respectively of top closure 13 (FIGURE 2). Within area 31 (FIGURE 3) a tear strip 39 is outlined by vertical score 34, horizontal weakened score 35, angular weakened score 36, a part of vertical score 33, angular weakened score 37, and horizontal weakened score 38. Within area 32 (FIGURE 3) a tear tab 40 is defined by angular cut 41 coextensive with weakened score 36, vertical cut 42, angular cut '43 coextensive with weakened score 37, and a part of vertical score 33. Also within area 32, bridge member 44 is defined by short vertical score 45, angular cut 46, vertical cut 47, angular cut 48, short vertical score 49, and vertical cut 42.

To complete two-ply top closure 13, bridge member 44 is folded toward the plane of the drawing about short scores 45 and 49 for degrees and then back toward the plane of the drawing for 90 degrees until cut line 47 (FIGURE 3) lies along vertical score 33 (FIGURE 4) and angular cut lines 46 and 43 lie in spaced relationship with angular cuts '41 and 43 of tear tab 40, leaving opening 56 in area 32. Bridge member 44 is now adhesively attached to the underside of area 32 in one trapezoidal area 51 defined by angular edge 46 of bridge member 44, vertical score 45', out line 41, and a short section of vertical score 33, and in another trapezoidal area 52 defined by angular cut 43, vertical score 49, angular edge 48, and a short section of vertical score 33 (FIGURE 4). As the next step in the completion of top closure 13, inner ply 32 is folded about score line 33 toward the plane of the drawing (FIGURE 5) to lie in juxtaposed relationship with outer ply 31. During this folding, tear tab 40- which was cut from inner ply 32 remains in unfolded condition attached to outer ply 31 in a part of score line 33 (FIGURE 5). At this time inner ply 32 may be attached adhesively to the under side of outer ply 31 or it may be left unattached for later attachment during a sealing operation. To complete top closure 13, circle 15 is now perforated through outer ply 31, part of bridge member 44, and inner ply 32 to give 'a perfectly circular opening for insertion of a tightly fitting plug (FIGURE '6). It is a necessary requirement of this operation that the perforating circle 15 completely encompass opening 50 left in inner ply 32 by the partial severing and folding of bridge member 44. The completed top closure 13 is shown in FIGURE 7 after removal of the scrap shown within circle 15 in FIGURE 6. Whereas I have shown and described a circular opening in top closure 13 this is by no means necessary as the plug 14 might be of oval, square, or any other shape. Likewise, the material used in making the plug shown in FIGURE 1 may be any one of many capable of being formed, drawn,

molded, or produced by any other process. The plug 14 may be adhesively attached to outer ply 31 or it may be merely inserted as a friction-fit closing device. In another form of the invention the plug may be expanded at its lower part below inner ply 32 to provide a tight closure.

To make the container of FIGURE 1, blank 12 (FIG- URE 3) is first wrapped about a mandrel of proper cross-section to cause vertical score lines 18, 19, 20, and

21 to fall at the corners resulting in panel 22 overlapping panel 26 to form a narrow side seam, which two panels are joined by adhesive in the overlapped area. The adhesive may be applied on specified areas, or an overall coating applied to the sheet material may in some instances serve as the adhesive. In many cases a thermoplastic material is preferred and heating of the areas to be sealed is employed. The manner of sealing at the joints is not a part of this invention. After the side seam has been made up, the bottom of the container is made up either by folding the lower end of the blank after scoring or using a separate piece of material. The bottom construction to be used is not a part of this invention. To make up the top of the container, the body now side-seamed and having a bottom is necked-in along score line 28, and narrow flanges 27 are formed outwardly (FIGURE 2) after the manner of my earlier Patent No. 3,199,761. Top closure 13 is now hinged about score line 29 and brought to rest on outwardly formed flanges 27 when inner ply 32 and a portion of bridge member 44 may be adhesively attached to flanges 27 (FIGURE 2). At this time filling of the product to be carried is done through perforation 15 in outer and inner plies 31 and 32 and the plug 14 is inserted in opening 15. Plug 14 may be adhesively attached to outer ply 31 or it may be a friction-fit in opening 15. In either case the lower end of plug 14 may be expanded to give a tighter closure. In another form of the invention weakened scores 35, 36, 37, and 38 may be cut entirely and the plug-fit used as the final closure; then tear strip 39 may be merely lifted instead of torn to open the container. In the last described construction plug 14 might be adhesively attached to tear strip 39 before the filling operation. In all of these constructions it is important that tear strip 33 be left free of adhesive attachment to inner ply 32 except in small selected areas so that the tear strip may be easily separated except at score 34 by merely pulling upwardly on tear tab 49.

To open the container, tear tab 40 is grasped between thumb and forefinger and pulled in an upward direction rupturing weakened scores 35, 36, 37, and 38 and hinging tear strip 39 about score line 34 and withdrawing plug 14 from its seat in opening 15 (FIGURE 2).

To reclose the container, tear strip 39 is returned to its original position and plug 14 is pressed downward into opening 15.

In FIGURES 1 to 7 inclusive of the drawings I have shown the invention in a container having a square horizontal cross-section. In FIGURE 8 the invention has been shown applied to a blank for a container of rectangular horizontal cross-section using a single blank 12a for body and top closure in which elongated fiap 17a is comprised of two areas 31a and 32a of different sizes and configurations. After the performance of steps similar to those of FIGURES 4, 5, 6, and 7 upon blank 12a with elongated flap 17a, this blank may be folded and ad hesively secured to make a container that does not have a square horizontal cross-section but may be of any rectangular configuration.

In FIGURES 9 and of the drawings I have shown the invention applied to a blank 17b for a separate top closure, to be applied to a container body, in which areas 31b and 32b are of different sizes and configurations. In FIGURE 10 I have shown the resulting separate top closure 13b after the performance of steps, similar to those of FIGURES 4, 5, 6, and 7, upon blank 17b.

This top closure may be applied to a container body that may be of any rectangular horizontal cross-section. It is thought that the invention and most of its advan tages and novel features will be understood from the foregoing description and drawings and it will be apparent that changes may be made in the construction and arrangernent of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the forms hereinbefore described representing a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A container comprising a tubular body of foldable material closed at its lower end; the upper edges of the side walls of said body terminating in outwardly extending end seam flanges; an integral elongated flap articulated to the upper edge of one side wall of said body, said flap divided by a score into two rectangular portions and folded about said score and adhesively attached to said end seam flanges and to itself forming a two-ply closure, the outer of said plies having a tear strip and cut from the inner of said plies a tear tab integral with and leading into the edges of said tear strip in said outer ply; within said inner ply a bridge member partially cut from said inner ply and folded upon and adhesively attached to said inner ply; and a perforation through said outer ply said bridge member and said inner ply, said perforation encompassing an opening left in said inner ply by the partial cutting and folding if said bridge member and forming a dispensing opening having an unbroken periphery in said inner ply together with said bridge member and forming an opening in said outer ply corresponding with said dispensing opening in said inner ply.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said outer ply carries a plug closing said dispensing opening.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tubular body is any quadrilateral in horizontal crosssection.

4. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tubular body is rectangular in horizontal cross-section.

5. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tubular body is square in horizontal cross-section.

6. A flat blank of foldable material including a major area scored and adapted to be folded and adhesively secured into a tubular body having a flanged upper edge integral with said major area; a substantially rectangular elongated flap hinged to the upper edge of said major area and adapted to be formed into a two-ply closure for a container; the outer ply-forming area if said flap having within it a tear strip and the inner ply-forming area having a tear tab integral with said tear strip in said outer ply-forming area; adjacent said tear tab a bridge member partially cut from said inner ply-forming area and adapted to be folded and adhesively attached to said inner ply-forming area and bridging a gap produced by cutting said tear tab from said inner ply; and a perforation through said outer ply-forming area said bridge member and said inner ply-forming area, said perforation encompassing an opening left in said inner ply-forming area by the partial cutting and folding of said bridge member.

7. A container formed by folding and gluing the blank claimed in claim 6.

8. In a dispensing container formed from a single piece of material a two-ply closure formed by folding a single flap having a tear strip in the outer ply integral with a tear tab formed from material cut from the inner ply; within said inner ply a bridge member partially cut from said inner ply and folded upon and ,adhesively attached to said inner ply; and a perforation through said outer ply said bridge member and said inner ply, said perforation encompassing an opening left in said inner ply by the partial cutting and folding of said bridge member and forming a dispensing opening having an unbroken periphery in said inner ply together with said bridge member and forming a corresponding opening in said outer ply.

9. A container as claimed in claim 8 closed at its lower end by integral folded flaps.

10. The container of claim 8 in which a plug is carried by said tear strip in said outer ply and closes said dispensing opening in said inner ply.

11. A two-ply closure member for a dispensing container, said closure member formed from a single piece of material folded about a score line parallel to an edge producing an outer ply and an inner ply; said outer ply having Within it a tear strip outlined by weakened scores and a folding score, and integral with said outer ply and cut from said inner ply a tear tab; Within said inner ply a bridge member partially cut .and folded and adhesively attached bridging a gap left by cutting said tear tab; and a perforation through said outer ply and said inner ply together with said bridge member encompassing an open- 6 ing in said inner ply formed by partially cutting and folding said bridge member.

12. A container carrying at its upper end a closure member as claimed in claim 11 and fitted with a plug closing said perforation through said outer ply and said inner ply and said bridge member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,822,963 2/1958 Alden 229-l7 2,926,832 3/1960 Negoro 229-7 X 3,128,032 4/1964 Hill 229-17 3,199,761 8/1965 Hill 229-17 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CONTAINER COMPRISING A TUBULAR BODY OF FOLDABLE MATERIAL CLOSED AT ITS LOWER END; THE UPPER EDGES OF THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID BODY TERMINATING IN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING END SEAM FLANGES; AN INTEGRAL ELONGATED FLAP ARTICULATED TO THE UPPER EDGE OF ONE SIDE WALL OF SAID BODY, SAID FLAP DIVIDED BY A SCORE INTO TWO RECTANGULAR PORTIONS AND FOLDED ABOUT SAID SCORE AND ADHESIVELY ATTACHED TO SAID END SEAM FLANGES AND TO ITSELF FORMING A TWO-PLY CLOSURE, THE OUTER OF SAID PLIES HAVING A TEAR STRIP AND CUT FROM THE INNER OF SAID PLIES A TEAR TAB INTEGRAL WITH AND LEADING INTO THE EDGES OF SAID TEAR STRIP IN SAID OUTER PLY; WITHIN SAID INNER PLY A BRIDGE MEMBER PARTIALLY CUT FROM SAID INNER PLY AND FOLDED UPON AND ADHESIVELY ATTACHED TO SAID INNER PLY; AND A PERFORATION THROUGH SAID OUTER PLY SAID BRIDGE MEMBER AND SAID INNER PLY, SAID PERFORATION ENCOMPASSING AN OPENING LEFT IN SAID INNER PLY BY THE PARTIAL CUTTING AND FOLDING IF SAID BRIDGE MEMBER AND FORMING A DISPENSING OPENING HAVING AN UNBROKEN PERIPHERY IN SAID INNER PLY TOGETHER WITH SAID BRIDGE MEMBER AND FORMING AN OPENING IN SAID OUTER PLY CORRESPONDING WITH SAID DISPENSING OPENING IN SAID INNER PLY. 